We have to start by sending a MAJOR congratulations to Broadway Black’s newest sweetheart Shanice Williams, the teen who beat out hundreds of young ladies for the role of a lifetime and made herself a household name with her stunning portrayal as Dorothy in “The Wiz! Live.”  At just 19 years old and in her first major role, Williams has earned a Critics Choice nomination for Actress In A Movie Made For Television or Limited Series.  I can only assume this will be the first of many nominations for the budding star.

“The Wiz! Live” racked up a bevy of nominations for its rating-smashing premiere including Movie Made for TV or Limited Series, a nomination for both veteran David Alan Grier and musical theater newcomer Neyo in the Actor In A Movie Made for Television or Limited Series category, and a surprising (yet much deserved) nomination for Mary J. Blige‘s impressive performance as Evilene.

While Queen Latifah didn’t receive recognition for her portrayal of “The Wiz” in the NBC special, the Queen did garner Golden Globe and SAG nominations for her captivating work in the HBO biopic “Bessie,” based on the true story of jazz legend Bessie Smith.

Another “Wiz” alum, Uzo Aduba also gained SAG and Golden Globe love for her Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series as “Crazy Eyes” in the Netflix phenomenon “Orange is the New Black.”

Black luminaries Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson are going head to head AGAIN as the adorably supportive friends were both awarded Golden Globe and SAG noms for Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.  Davis leads the poll with a Critics Choice nom as well.

And just in case Hollywood doesn’t get it right (which we know they’re good for), the NAACP Image Awards nominations always make sure that works of color are getting their fair due.  In addition to recognizing “The Wiz! Live,” the awards have also doled out nominations to Misty Copeland (On The Town) for Entertainer of the Year and Julliard Alum Corey Hawkins (Romeo & Juliet) for Best Actor in the critically acclaimed hip-hop film “Straight Outta Compton.”

David Alan Grier racked up NAACP nominations for his work in “The Wiz” as well as his NBC comedy “The Carmichael Show,” alongside his costar Loretta Divine (Dreamgirls) who was also recognized for her work in the sitcom.  Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her charming portrayal of Taystee on “OITNB.”

Beautiful Broadway ladies are taking over the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture category as Angela Bassett (The Mountaintop) and Jennifer Hudson (The Color Purple) earned nominations for their roles in “Chi-Raq,” while Phylicia Rashad (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) and Tessa Thompson (Smart People) both got noms for the new box-office hit “Creed.”

Broadway Black would like to send a HUGE congratulations to all of the nominees!  We’ll be glued to our screens on awards day providing you with all the glamorous details.  Now, who do YOU want to win?

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Suzi Bass was a well-known actress in the Atlanta area, making a name for herself not only for her talent but as an affable and generous person. She died of cancer in 2002 after a career that included film, theatre and television. It is widely accepted as a point of pride for a production to be listed as “Suzi Recommended.” Additionally, being “Suzi Recommended” designates that a production will also be on the Nominating Ballot at the end of the season. The awards show, now in its eleventh year, was originally modeled after the The Joseph Jefferson Awards in Chicago but has since evolved to better reflect the community in Atlanta. The Awards seek to recognize outstanding contributions in both plays and musicals with almost thirty categories.

This year, some of the nominees include Leon Smith for Outstanding Sound Design in a musical for Black Nativity and Outstanding Lead Actor in a play by Eugene Lee for How I Learned What I Learned at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company.  Chasin’ Dem Blues at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company nabbed seven “by show” nominations and eight nominations by the theatre company including: Outstanding Lighting Design in a musical by Joseph Futral; Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a musical with Maiesha McQueen, Brad Raymond, Anthony David, Jeremy Cohen, Spencer Bean and Che Marshall; Outstanding Musical Direction by Jeremy Cohen; Outstanding Direction for a musical by Kevin Ramsey; and Outstanding Production in a Musical.

For a complete list of Suzi Bass Awards and Nominees click here.The Suzi Bass Awards will be held on November 2.

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The all-star line-up features Faith Evans , Angela Winbush, Meli’sa Morgan , Monifah , Candace Benson, runner-up on season 7 of BET Sunday Best and Urban Guerilla Orchestra. Perhaps best known as the original “Deena Jones” in Dreamgirls on Broadway, Ms. Ralph earned a Tony nomination and won a Drama Desk award for her star-making effort. In 1990, the actor turned activist and chartered the 501c3 Driving Infectious Viruses Away or DIVA Foundation.

The actress, producer and singer, turned best-selling author with her 2012 book, Redefining Diva, which took on a additional meaning as DIVA has become known as Divinely Inspired Victoriously Anointed. The foundation appears to evolve in the same dynamic way its founder can reinvent herself.

Reinvention is one of several talents that come easy for a woman of equal parts style and substance. Ms. Ralph graduated college while still in her teens and has earned a doctorate in connection with the work she’s done in honor of those she has lost to AIDS. Divas Simply Singing, the longest consecutive running musical AIDS benefit in the nation, will feature HIV screenings and testimonies from those impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Ms. Ralph also performs the one-woman play she wrote and directed, Sometimes I Cry, to tell the story of women impacted by the virus and disease. Ralph is the AIDS Ambassador for Jamaica and the recipient of the United Nations first-ever Red Ribbon award which recognized her unique utilization of the arts as part of her AIDS activism. Tickets for Divas Simply Singing on Saturday, August 22 at the Dell Music Center at 7pm can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

On May 25, Broadway Black met with Sheryl Lee Ralph backstage at Washington DC’s Howard Theatre before the one night only performance of Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical, that is being presented in collaboration with Ms. Ralph and her D.I.V.A. Foundation.

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K. Todd Freeman was awarded Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play for Airline Highway, in which he plays Sissy Nana, a den mother of sorts to a group of ragtag characters of the Hummingbird Hotel; his performance was described as having “vibrant comic panache” by the New York Times (and he’s also nominated for his second Tony Award this year for the same role; his first nomination was for The Song Jacob Zulu).

Next, Renee Elise Goldsberry won Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for Hamilton.  Portraying the role of Angelica, Alexander Hamilton’s intellectual soulmate, and the eldest of the three Schuyler sisters.  New York Daily News says the musical “could’ve been another ho-hum bio, but like the illegitimate orphan-turned-power player it celebrates, the robustly original, infectiously entertaining new musical “Hamilton” beats the odds and far exceeds expectations.”

Finally, John Douglas Thompson was recognized with a special award which recognizes excellence and significant contributions to the theatre.  This season, Thompson was in Tamburlaine the Great and The Iceman Cometh, and was noted for “his commanding presence, classical expertise, and vocal prowess,” according to the Drama Desk Awards.  The New York Times calls Thompson “one of the most compelling classical stage actors of his generation.”

A huge congrats to all the nominees and winners including costume designer Paul Tazewell for Hamilton, whose remarkable roles run the gamut of dramatic expression, and whose work is being recognized by peers and critics alike. Read the entire list of winners below.

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K. Todd Freeman is nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role as Sissy Na Na in Airline Highway. His bio includes:

Steppenwolf Company member since 1993. At Steppenwolf: The Brother/Sister Plays, The Tempest, Topdog/Underdog, A Clockwork Orange, …Cuckoo’s Nest (Broadway), The Song of Jacob Zulu (Broadway, Tony nomination). Other Broadway: Wicked. Off-Broadway: Fetch Clay/Make Man (NYTW, Obie Award); Spunk, The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide… (Public Theater); Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Drama Dept.). Regional: Angels in America, Miss Evers’ Boys (Mark Taper Forum). Television and film: “Elementary,” “The Slap,” “Believe,” “A Gifted Man,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “NYPD Blue,” “A Different World,” Anesthesia (dir. Tim Blake Nelson), The Dark Knight, The Cider House Rules and Grosse Pointe Blank.

ON THE LIST HOST FELICIA BOSWELL:

 HELEN HAYES WINNER (Outstanding Lead Actress 2013); Broadway: MOTOWN (Diana Ross), MEMPHIS (Felicia u/s) Nat’l Tour: MEMPHIS (Felicia Farrell), Dreamgirls (Deena/ Lorell), AIDA (Aida Standby) Regional: RENT (Mimi) Atlanta Lyric Theatre*, Caroline Or Change (Radio) Guthrie Theatre, AIDA (Aida) VMT, BEEHIVE (Diana Ross) Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Boys From Syracuse (Courtesan) Baltimore Centerstage, Little Shop of Horrors (Chiffon) Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Starlight Jazz (Japan). Other Credits: MACY’S Day Parade 2013 (Diana Ross), Knockin’ the Musical (Wynona Carr), Heart & Lights, Joe Turner’s Come & Gone (Molly Cunningham); *Suzi Bass Nominee; Performance dedicated to parents, my Love, WFW III! Visit Official Fan Page for Felicia Boswell on Facebook. www.FeliciaBoswell.com

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